EU ratifies Paris agreement on climate change

The European Parliament backed the Paris accord to fight climate change on Tuesday, the EU executive said, tipping it over the threshold needed for the global deal to enter into force.

The Paris Agreement, backed by nearly 200 nations nearly one year ago, will help guide a radical shift of the world economy away from fossil fuels in an effort to limit heat waves, floods, droughts and rising sea levels.

European Climate Commissioner Miguel Arias Canteen said the milestone heralded a harder phase of turning promises into cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.